Steps allegedly taken to push through soil-mixed coal for Matarbari plant

Meghna Group, the supplier of recently discovered heavily soil-contaminated coal, has allegedly adopted illegal means to bypass regulatory obstructions against the unusable supplies and provide these for the Matarbari power plant.

On Saturday last, the Coal Power Generation Company Limited (CPGCL) declined to accept the 63,000-tonne consignment after detecting the soil mixture. 

Meghna Group officials are working to pass through the consignment anyway, and allegedly are working to swiflty unload a second shipment of soil-mixed coal, fearing further obstructions.

By Wednesday evening, Meghna Group officials stationed at Chattogram port had ensured the unloading of the entire 70,000-tonne consignment from the new vessel through unfair means, some port workers alleged. 

Now the group representatives are also talking about unloading coal from the first ship through whatever means necessary, including influencing the energy ministry.

According to sources, attempts to use contaminated fuel are being taken to shut down the Matarbari plant and put the interim government in a difficult situation.

Notably, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have received allegations of widespread corruption committed by Meghna Group through trade under-invoicing, tax evasions, over one lakh core money laundering, and illegal river encroachment.

First detection of contaminated coal

An Indian company sourced the first shipment of contaminated fuel from Indonesia, and it was brought to the Chattogram seaport on a ship operated by Meghna Group. The Singapore-flagged ship was named MV Orient Orchid.

Stevedores first noticed the heavy coal mixture, and alerted authorities without delay. Meghna Group became aware of the trouble brewing against its shipment, and started working to influence government officials.

As a result, initially, port officials were silent on the issue. Later, only one port official intervened, blocking the unloading of 40,650-tonne coal supplies. However, the 63,000-tonne already unloaded were forwarded to the next authorities, only to be later blocked by CPGCL.

A port worker, preferring anonymity, told the Bangla daily Kaler Kantho that attempts are being taken to shut down the Matarbari Power Plant ahead of peak summer demand and stoke public anger against the interim government.

Continued supply of contaminated coal will hamper Matarbari's operations, forcing it to shut down indefinitely, said the worker, experienced in handling coal supplies.

"This is our country, and this plant is also ours. We cannot allow conspiracies to continue against the assets of 18 crore people," he said patriotically.

Other workers claimed they handled 12 coal shipments over the past three and a half months. But the recent two shipments are worst in quality. Experts claimed use of contaminated coal for power plants is highly risky, and can force closures.

According to sources, Abul Kalam Azad, former project director for Matarbari power plant, was a close ally of the ousted Awami League fascist government. Through corruption and nepotism, he ensured the recruitment of 500 people in the project, many of whom applied on Awami League's ticket.

Now, amidst furore over contaminated coal supply, the plant officials are largely silent.